JULY - Our Geoff's Always Arsing About...

Well I'll go to the foot of our Stairs,

Thats us back from Skeggy. Wind, rain, warm beer, cafe tables littered with piles of someone else's dirty plates and great pools of congealed milk shake in the hollow of your plastic seat.... Ah, the British really know how to run a holiday resort don't they? Back in the boozer with the gang, the hot topic for discussion was Yoko Ono being given a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the recent MOJO awards which even 'tops' the laughable 'Lifetime Achievement' award given to the Spice Girls or 'Band of the Year' to Hearsay. What made it more incredible were comments from musicians who actually gave credence for what she had seemingly done in the past. Call me conventional but I don't believe that sitting in a sack and screaming for three hours has ANY musical merit whatsoever, in fact, my teenage daughter used to sit in her bedroom and scream for longer but at least had the creativity to throw in the occasional expletive about not understanding her!! Crazy Malc said some people should look up the word 'sychophant' in the dictionary. Nobber agreed and added that he was sick of ants too...? (Groan)

ESSENTIAL VIEWING
Recently, John Woodhouse gave me the excellent DVD "Standing in the Shadow of Motown', a film documentary about the session musicians at Motown, collectively known as 'The Funk Brothers'. It's a film worth watching for any music fan and particularly lovers of soul music. It got me thinking of some other musical movie gems that cover the BRUMBEAT days. You guys might just want to watch these whilst lying on the settee swigging a beer or two. I have excluded the obvious Elvis/Beatles/Stones films, Anthology etc...

THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT.

This film from the early Rock and Roll days (1956) was a real ground breaker, I think the first Rock film made in colour. It features a host of RandR greats including Gene Vincent, Little Richard and the incredible Eddy Cochran performing the much recorded '20 Flight Rock'. In 68' The Beatles watched this film on TV and retired to Abbey Road to record 'Birthday', it's influence immediately recognisable with its 'Lucille' type riff. Jayne Mansfield looks pretty good too..... I think you could call it a 'Light Hearted romp".



THE LAST WALTZ. Great footage of The Band's last concert with appearances from a galaxy of big names plus some quite funny interviews with members of The Band that covered their life from the early days of Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks through their period of collaboration with Bob Dylan and the subsequent release of the great, Big Pink and The Band Albums etc... Directed by Martin Scorcese this is a real must for serious music fans.






SMILE. This double DVD is absolutely brilliant. Whilst the live concert disc itself is great with a host of beautifully constructed songs that you simply cannot get out of your head, the accompanying "Story of Smile' is an eye opener, showing Brian Wilson's naked torment at re-visiting the music that brought him to his knees all those years ago and then remained in the vaults for 40 years. It is all the more remarkable that he was only 23 years of age when he composed this masterpiece. For my money he is one of the greatest musicians of all time. This DVD is a must have!!



SOME OTHERS, NOT QUITE SO GOOD BUT BRUMBEAT -

THE GHOST GOES GEAR. This 60's film surrounding the music of the Spencer Davis Group is absolutely dreadful. I loved this band and how Steve Winwood must cringe at the thought of how 'uncool' it was to be singing the Bessie Smith classic 'Nobody loves you when you're down and Out' dressed in his pyjamas!! Click here for an eyefull: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQEZQDKGLh4

JUST FOR YOU. This film was really just a line up of pop songs of the day but featured The Applejacks. The band was also in two other short movies, SWINGING UK and the sequel UK SWINGS AGAIN. This format must have been popular with the record companies because both of these 'shorts' reappeared as the film GO GO BIG BEAT
a sort of "Buy One get two Free' movie.

POP GEAR. The Rockin Berries appeared in the 1965 film 'Pop Gear' alongside a host of other Brit acts of the day. This film too re-appeared as sister of Go Go Big Beat, aptly titled GO GO MANIA. Berries clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTojTyX_Hb0

GEOFF TURTON EXPOSED.
The lovely Geoff Turton has also made a solo short film singing his favourite song
Click Here for an eye opener, Definitely Recommended: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0AbjEsSBU

FOND FAREWELL. Well all you instrumental 'geeks' out there will, I know, be saddened to learn of the recent passing of Bob Bogle, Lead Guitarist with The Ventures. A great group of their day who scored many a hit, particularly 'Walk Don't Run".....end of an era.

Isn't it strange that 'hip' American groups of the early sixties always appeared to be in their Forties?

OK Brothers back to the bar........"Ethel, four Brown and Milds if you please....."

Bob

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JUNE - "We're all going on a dum de dum de dum..."

Ow yer Gooin' ar kid.............

GREAT NEWS. I've heard today that 60 is the new 30! So that phrase "If only I was a few years younger" seems to have come true - now then, where's Penelope Cruz's phone number?, damn it, If only I could remember where I'd left the phone book... or the car, my glasses, the cat. What was that girls name again??

THE LIST
Thanks to all you folk for your correspondence regarding the eligibility criteria for inclusion on the 'Hallowed List" of BRUMBEAT bands.........well John and I have shared our thoughts but have reached no final decision so, the argument goes on.

BEWARE!! This Man is after you!!


Were you in a group or a solo act between 1960 and 1975? - Did you record any material at all? (that is for a record company, not your Aunt Gladys or one of those Make Your Own recording booths that were around for a while), Did you live within a bus journey ride of Brum?
Do you know how to use a computer for anything other than games or porn?

If your answer is yes to the above then avid Brumbeat expert Chris Smith, who is a regular at all Brumbeat concerts is interested in hearing from you. For the past 18 months he has been studiously working on a book which he jokingly refers to as War and Peace Vols 1 and 2 - but has the tentative title of 'BRUMBEAT and BEYOND 1960-75' which catalogues (or catalogs for our American friends) all recorded and released music by Midlands bands during that period of time.

Chris informs me he has just got his hands on The Rockin' Modernairs 7" single, "The Woodchoppers Ball" released in 1960 that he is extremely proud to have found, as it was a private pressing ......... I'm sure, like Chris is, that there are some of you guys hiding your murky past inside a shoebox in the attic, including a 7"single that you recorded but nobody has heard of or, like the above, was made as a private pressing - well now your moment to get some recognition has arrived. Chris can be contacted at: smithc711@aol.com .

The true BRUMBEAT period itself had disappeared by 1970 so this is the chance for all you late comers and those who reside outside of the confines of the City Limits to get in on the act. Keep at it Chris.........now I think I've got a Bulls Head Bob single somewhere "You Give me the Horn" b/w ''Your ego becomes you, now you have no Hair" - definite masterpiece! I also see from the picture that Chris is interested in herb gardening, no wonder he's smiling!!

CHUCK BOTFIELD. Well, fresh faced youngster Chuck Botfield has reached a remarkable landmark. The Rockin' Berries guitarist (and his beer crate) have just celebrated 50 years in the biz without a break. Not a single line on his face either, just how does he do it?.........great news mate and many congratulations from us here at BRUMBEAT Towers.

JORDANNE WHILLEY SPONSORSHIP.

PENNY SHORT
Brummie band PENNY SHORT, "Kinda Country if yer get ma drift" but with some BRUMBEAT connections via Bob Styler, raise much money for charity and have on sale right now a CD with all profits going to sponsor 17 year old Jordanne Whilley from Halesowen, a wheelchair tennis Paralympian for the upcoming 2012 Olympics. Not only that, they are also donating all of their booking fees up until that time!! Well, its time to look after your own, you guys out there, so dip your hands in your pocket and buy a copy now if you like C&W or just give her some sponsorship dough, or if you're a promoter give the guys a gig or two.........visit Penny Short's website for more details and keep your eyes peeled for upcoming gigs, then go along to help raise some much needed cash. http://www.pennyshort.co.uk/ . Their photo shows that already they may have sponsorship interest from a hat shop?

Good Luck from BRUMBEAT Jordanne.

BLACK SABBATH. There's 'trouble at mill' in the Sabbath fraternity with Ozzy suing the Left Hander over copyright issues. Times must be getting hard??

AND FINALLY...... The Gang of Four at the pub raised our glasses to a great hero of our time, Doctor Robert Furchgott - who's that you say? well he was the co-inventor of Viagra and at the great age of 92 the said Doctor passed away in May. Brings a different meaning to "Everyday I have the Blues"

Myself, Mrs Bob and the Boblettes have packed our bags for the summer hols. So adieu until my return from the sunny shores of Skeggy - Ahh, its so bracing. Are we there yet?

Tara abit

Bob
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MAY - All Yer' Sons be Bishops

Wotcha Brummies, Muso's in Surrounding Areas and Far Off Lands,

Well here we are again. No news from the 'gang of four' at the pub to pass on so you'll have to put up with my rambling nonsense as usual. I'm pleased to say that no one connected with Brum Beat has passed away in the last couple of weeks, as far as I know, so that makes a pleasant change. .


Whilst on that particular subject I started thinking about what I'd like to have engraved on my headstone when the great moment arrives for me to wind up this mortal coil. I was thinking of something meaningful, witty and endearing. My offspring however, have already made several suggestions and 'Stroppy Old Wanker' seems to be their favourite choice of the moment.

GETTING DOWN TO IT......I've been 'at it' digging in the garden during April which is something I thoroughly enjoy. There is a certain degree of peace and feeling of harmony when I am working with the soil, caring for plants that I have lovingly raised from seeds. You may think "Well thats an old man's game Bob, not very Rock n Roll" but on the contrary, Rock and Roll was my inspiration - I shall explain: Whilst travelling home after a gig we did at The Yowmsaft Arms in Sedgeley, as a mere strip of a lad, we found ourselves taking a couple of girls 'home' through the smog and, although I never saw it myself, we must have passed a Garden Centre on the way because, from the darkness of the van's back seats, I heard one of the band members say


"Wow - Now thats what I call a Bush".





I took it from there..................

BURNS GUITARS. A few months back I referred to the Burns guitar history, not in a geeky or nurdy way, simply as a memory jogger really for those of us who remember buying musical equipment and paying in Guineas (for our younger readers One Guinea was One Pound and a Shilling). Just recently I read on the BBC internet page about a 'treasure trove' of unseen Burns Supersound guitars discovered in Cheltenham. Click on the following link to read more: < http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/7999615.stm >

It's a bit like one those daydreams we all have from time to time of opening a shed door or looking in the attic and finding something incredible, in my particular case it would be to open a bank statement and find that it isn't in the red!!
Two things about Cheltenham whilst I'm on the subject, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones was born there and Cheltenham Ladies College was a great gig!!!!!

QUESTIONS TO PONDER ON THE BOG?

Why is it that musicians are always broke?
What was Captain Hooks name before he lost his hand?
Just how on earth did U2 get to be a big band?
How did 'Muff' Winwood get that name???
Is it true that the self styled King of Magic, David Blaine learned how to pull a lit cigarette out of his coat pocket from Danny King?

HOT POOP. Our spies on the street have it on good authority that the early DECCA recordings of the Applejacks will be available soon on a new CD. So if your'e a fan keep on looking here for further news of release dates etc..........maybe John will do one of his nice reviews?

CONTROVERSY CORNER

BULLS HEAD BOB OPENS CAN OF WORMS:

"I've opened a can of worms says Bulls Head Bob" screamed the headlines of The Birmingham Press. This controversial headline was relating to the March Blog on the subject of who should be allowed on the list of Brumbeat bands. "There are worms everywhere" the article continued "Bob has lit the blue touch paper and he's not going to be allowed to Stand Back and wait" states ace reporter, Winston Anka. "Worms from Wolverhampton, Leamington, Coventry, Tamworth, Burton on Trent, The Potteries - all wriggling away demanding entry onto the 'Hallowed List".

A spokesman for the Anti Outside Brum Band Association (AOBBA) remarked that this could be the start of a 'turf war'. The 'We Hate Poncey Cabaret Groups Group' (WHPCGG) said "Its our intention to round up anyone who performed at a Working Mens Club or who sung any of Hermans Hermits hits and send them to Coventry so they will be struck off the list". The Federation of Brumbeat Muso's Currently Residing Overseas (TFBMCRO) said 'What was that? Oh we're all too busy getting pissed to give a ****".

The 'Worms Have Feelings Too" group thanked me for liberating some of their Sisters.

Jim Capaldi - Hellions/Traffic (Evesham), Cozy Powell - Several Brum bands (Cirencester), Tony Iommi - Black Sabbath and others (From a place where Iommi is a normal surname), Charlie Grima - Wizzard and others (Malta) ....................... Oh Bollocks!!!

Bob
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APRIL - There's No Fool Like.....

Hello Brummies,
Here we are then, April and the onset of the British Springtime. Lambs cavorting in the meadows, young folk having it away in bus shelters and sparrows and larks coughing up their lungs whilst flying over the Aston expressway. Ah..... the beauty of Brum.

TUXEDO JUNCTION
As reported in Jan, the re-formed Tuxedo Junction Blues Band played their first gig at The Irish Centre, Leamington Spa with the proceeds going to charity. The night was a great success with all 400 tickets pre sold before the gig. There was an enthusiastic crowd and the band raised over 1500 Pounds. Brilliant guys - I dont think there were that many people at The Move's first re-formed performance, perhaps TJ were playing more gritty licks. A couple of piccies below of the band in action. They have several gigs upcoming in the Leamington and Warwick area so if you get a chance go along and support live music.

THE GREAT DEBATE, JUST WHO'S ENTITLED? Tom Lane, skin thumper for Tuxedo has also raised the discussion point I alluded to in last months blog when talking about The Sorrows being a band from outside of Brum that deserve to be included within the Brumbeat community. He said to remind those purist diehards that although he and TJ come from the Leamington area he has also played with many Brum bands too. It is a part of the controversy about who should be included on the site, for instance should cabaret groups be included? I mean, were they Brumbeat? - I dont really think so. What about groups who are included who didn't come along till after the Brumbeat period? Shouldn't they be on a separate site of those Brumbeat wannabees who WISHED they had been about then - its a quandary for sure.

PHIL MYATT. Nice to hear from Lee Stevens (ex Lee Stevens and the Satellites) who has some fond memories of Phil and like many of us, was upset to hear of his passing. Lee now lives in Canada but informs me that before emigrating in 68 he and his band performed regularly at The Carlton. Phil Myatt threw a surprise champagne party for him which was attended by many groups of the day as a way of saying farewell. Can you really imagine any of the other promoters doing that sort of thing........either then or today, no chance!! He was one of a kind.

Its short and sweet this month guys, take care and keep music live.............Oops, Happy Easter for those of you with a religious outlook.

Bob

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MARCH - Left, Right, Left, Right........

Hiya Brummies and assorted Muso's, Brits Overseas, etc etc......


Well thank goodness that soddin' snow has gone. Takes me back to 1963, digging our way out of the house. Lucy said it was good thing because it has kept me from going to the Bulls Head to sort out the worlds problems with the Gang of Four, that is me, Nobber, Mick the Plumber and Crazy Malcolm. It was great to return to my drinking haunt however and after catching up on each others business, outside of drinking, we got down to the serious business of talking about music and specifically about bands that had a lasting impact on each of us.....I remembered these guys:


NOT REALLY BRUMBEAT BUT........... I want to ramble on about a 60's band from Coventry that some of you may not have come across but I had the pleasure of seeing, when we were on the same bill a couple of times, once at Yardley Technical College and the other occasion at The Rainbow Suite, in the city centre. You may say, "Come off it Bob, Coventry isn't Brumbeat", well I could extend that argument about bands from Walsall and Stafford etc that feature on the site already and this band definitely deserves to be mentioned several times on any site that is about good music. I am talking about The Sorrows.


I am not going to go into depth about them but they were a group that I have always been impressed by and was surprised when they failed to make it as big as they should have.

The Sorrows, for me, were like the midlands equivalent of The Yardbirds. Hard, resonating Rythmn and Blues delivered brilliantly. They had a few 'single' releases during the mid-sixties with the most memorable being 'Take a Heart' which was also the name of their subsequent LP released in 66.
Fronted by vocalist Don Maughn (who went on to have a solo hit with "Indian Reservation" as 'Don Fardon' in 67 following the inevitable band fracture) the band blasted through their high energy set with some very nice guitar breaks from Pip Whitcher, a guitarist whose style I embraced alongside my own. They played several times in Brum so I can't be the only one who remembers them. Following Fardons departure, the band moved, for some inexplicable reason to Italy where they had a couple more releases but effectively took themselves out of the UK music market which was the most important at the time? Their album is highly recommended to everyone and although you may have to fork out a considerable amount for the vynil original. It has been re-released on CD.
For lovers of actual Brumbeat (that is Beat Groups) this is a must for your collection and receives the Bulls Head Bob Seal of Approval.

COLLECTABLE CD.
If you are a Brumbeat fan and were wise enough to purchase The Uglys CD you have done yourself a favour. Everything that this band recorded has since become a collectable item and their 2004 CD is now changing hands on Amazon.com for 75 pounds a throw. I know I should have bought two!!!

On that note of potential investment profit I shall bid you a fond farewell for this month. Don't forget to buy your Easter Eggs......

See Ya Next Time

Bob

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FEB - BURNS NIGHT

Well Hello There......

There's not much of interest going on around the city that has any relevance to Brumbeat for this month so I thought I would take a trip down "Guitar Memory Lane" and look at Burns Guitars. (I have not included all models and I am not a guitar 'Nerd' so please don't pick me up on small points like the amount of screw heads on the scratchplate etc).
So many of the early bands were equipped with this make of instrument so, let's start with: THE VIBRASONIC, a budget guitar of great quality though it was as ugly as sin!! I could never comprehend what the designers were thinking of when they started work on this guitar, its awful appearance however, was more than made up for by its technical specs and its range of sounds.

(Selmer Amps,Watkins Copycat, Framus Star Bass and (centre) Burns Vibrasonic) - Johny Shane and the Cadillacs.
This guitar had a sister in the shape of THE VIBRA-ARTIST that was equipped with fewer knobs to twiddle about with. It was a popular choice for those starting out on the rocky road to constant misery. It had a kind of Telecaster headstock but the rest of the guitar seems to have been designed by a committee. The small body looks incongruous fitted with a Bigsby type Tremelo with its arm covering the whole length of its podgy body.

THE VISTA SONIC.

OK, so Burns had grown up a bit and produced a really good guitar for the time. The Vista Sonic was produced as a 6 string and Bass guitar and had remarkably good pick ups and less twiddly knobs.

The headstock of this guitar looked as though a giant had taken a bite out of it with its serated edge. Someone must have said something about the body of the earlier models being small because all of a sudden the bodies became massive. One large bodied model that caught my eye and which I tried out for a week was the Burns TR2, a semi solid with controls cleverly hidden beneath its scratch plate and a smaller Tremelo arm.

THE BLACK BISON
The Black Bison was a monster of a guitar (here shown in the expert hands of Leigh Higginson, The Yamps). The sheer size of this thing was incredible and though it produced a good sound it soon lost its popularity with guitarists developing weak shoulders because of its unwieldly weight.

The model range was augmented by the Baby Bison, a smaller and more manageable variant for those who didn't need as much Horn!!



BURNS SHORT SCALE

A big piccie of this model. This was a very, very nice guitar to play. For once Burns got it right with the right size, right amount of controls and a fast neck. This was really the Spitfire of the range, it looked like a good guitar should and played just as well. If you own one of these beauties look after it. This model was also available as a Bass.

Burns guitars must have thought they had cracked it when The Shadows changed from Fender Stratocasters to the Burns Marvin.

The company should have seen what was on the musical horizon though with the emergence of The Beatles. Guitars that had been designed to play instumentals were becoming a thing of the past. Far too clean in its sound and far too prissy to be cool,(that awful looking headstock) the model sold in small numbers only. The model was reintroduced in the Nineties for those who wished to reminisce but I can't really think that it was a good idea. This is the sort of guitar for groups who played working mens clubs whilst doing the Shadow Stroll but outside of that not much use to anyone.

For lovers of this instrument, you probably think I'm talking out of my arse but at the end of the day its only my point of view.

Anyway Brummies thats it for now, except to say its Valentines Day this month so remember the one you love.

See Yer Ar Kid

Bob

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JAN 09 - CRAPPY CRISIS AND A BROKE NEW YEAR

Hiya Brummies and a Happy New Year to you All,

Well Christmas has gone, the New Year is here and it's now been two years since I first started doing this blog, so Happy Birthday to me! Owing to this world economic crisis and my own economic crisis, I won't be inviting any guests to the surprise party I'm holding for myself at a secret location. I would like however, to thank all of those kind folks who have spared their time to contact me, your efforts keep sites like this and the memories of those great Brumbeat days alive. I hope you continue to add more chapters to that story throughout this year too, along with my inane ramblings.

Its been a strange 12 months, seeing some of my old mates disappear off the face of the earth but inevitability comes knocking relentlessly and will continue to do so. If there's someone you have always wanted to aplogise to for being an asshole but your ego never let you get around to it...do it now before you peg out, I'm sure you'll feel all the better for it and so will the recipient.

SOME FACES
Thought I'd highlight a couple of the Brumbeat faces that are still around 'doing their thing'.

MALCOLM PALMER.
Multi-instrumentalist, Malcolm Palmer has a great past. One of the founder members of The Yamps,Traction,The Fashion and 14 years with The Garage Band - where he was also accompanied on vocals by his son. He famously turned down an offer from Chicken Shack who were in the process of forming (he went to art school with Christine Perfect) because he preferred to stay playing with his freinds. Malcolm has seen more than his fair share of gigs and has also worked in New Orleans looking for his musical roots. I could have probably saved him a journey (they're in a bag under the stairs next to your 'How to Keep Calm" book?).

These days he can be found 'Blowin' his sax, tickling the ivories and playing occasional guitar with his band 'Bourbon St' - a good little 'all round' outfit. The band is playing at The Red Lion, Shirley on 11 Jan 09. So "A splendid time is guaranteed for all" and you boppers can go and boogie the night away.

As well as being a dedicated musician, Malcolm's stage craft, and motivation, particularly during his high energy days with The Yamps was outstanding and his output was something to be seen. Bourbon St have a web site you may like to check out. If so, Click below:

http://www.bourbonstband.com/

TUXEDO JUNCTION.

The Tuxedo Junction blues band have recently re-formed and are performing a charity gig at The Leamington Irish Club, Leamington Spa on 30 January 09. So, if like me, you are into the Blues and are in the Leamington area, get yourselves along there, have a rockin' good night and help raise a few quid for a good cause. Good luck guys, - I imagine there was a lot more hair about during their earlier incarnation.

GERMAN SENSE OF HUMOUR?? - Those of us who believe that the Germans have no sense of humour will, no doubt, be impressed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's attempts to cheer up her fellow countrymen during these grey days, politically speaking. She has recently taken up a semi-pro position in Music Hall and is doing the round of German Working Mens Clubs, you know - sauerkraut mit bockwurst in a basket. Her latest publicity photos show her during her act, performing her much loved 'Nose Balancing Routine' which has her fellow countrymen rolling about with laughter. Now, if only we could get Gordon Brown to team up with David Blaine and do the famous disappearing trick? - in fact, why not both of them together? it would save the world from boredom.

Happy New Year to everyone out there and please take care of each other.

Bob
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